Catfish confirmed in Lake Rotorua

Catfish have been confirmed in Lake Rotorua in the lead up to Christmas.

Right: The pest fish (photo Glen MacLean)

This is particularly bad timing but confirms what we have considered ‘only a matter of time’ since they were discovered in Lake Rotoiti 18 months ago.

In the relatively short space of time since a weed harvester working in Te Weta Bay (Lake Rotoiti) revealed several catfish in its payload of aquatic weed, catfish have spread their range through Okere Arm and into the Ohau Channel connecting Lake Rotoiti to Rotorua.

Fyke netting surveys by a Bay of Plenty Regional Council contractor caught six catfish by Mokoia Island within Lake Rotorua on the 18th of December.

Catfish are likely to thrive within the shallow, weed bed-rich environment of Lake Rotorua and compete with trout and other species for a rich food source of bullies, koura and invertebrates.

Fish & Game advises any anglers, boaties and general public to be acutely aware of the need to Check, Clean and Dry fishing gear and boats between waterways to ensure these pests are not spread from one to another.

If people are looking to get involved in the ‘Catfish Control Programme’ please contact William Anaru at Te Arawa Lakes Trust in Rotorua.

The success of these programmes requires a coordinated approach and will provide advice and information to ensure that other pests and catfish are not further spread through poor control practices.

Fyke nets are extremely hard to clean of weed fragments that may also contain catfish eggs.